Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe - Evolving Table (2024)

In just 10 minutes you can have the BEST crispy Air Fryer Bacon ready to eat and without a ton of mess to clean-up! Because the strips are elevated in the air fryer basket, the fat drips away leaving you with a quick, easy, and foolproof way to cook bacon!

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe - Evolving Table (1)

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe

For years I have been cookingbacon in a skillet.I even got a little creative and started makingoven-baked baconon a sheet pan!

But when I discovered the magic ofAir Fryer Bacon, I was forever convinced: this was the BEST way to cook bacon and a total game-changer!

The first time I made a batch of Whole Foods thick-cut bacon, it was fully cooked and ready to eat in a fraction of the time with no hassle.

The open-air heat of convection baking makes the perfect environment for bacon tocrispevenlyon all sides, while also shedding excess fat along the way.

Making the baconleaner,crispier, andperfectly cookedevery single time!

Plus, since the bacon is contained, there’sno oil splatteringwhich makes an easy cleanup!

Table of Contents

  • Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe
  • Types of Bacon
  • How to Make Air Fryer Bacon
  • FAQs
  • Recipe Tips
  • Recipes with Bacon
  • Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe - Evolving Table (2)

Types of Bacon

Much like the oven, the air fryer is pretty forgiving when it comes to cooking just about anything in it. But there are a few general rules of thumb you’ll want to follow when selecting the best bacon and utilizing the air fryer method.

Thethickness of your bacondetermines how long you will need to air fry it.Thick-cut baconwill take a minute or two longer than regular-cut. Thin baconwill take a minute or two less.

The leanness of the bacon strips will also play a small role in cooking times. A leaner type of bacon will cook up more quickly since there is less fat to render off. Fattier slices will take a little longer to cook.

How to Make Air Fryer Bacon

Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

1. Preheat the Air Fryer

Despite the simplicity of the preparation method, there are still certain steps that must be followed carefully for the sake of quality and safety.

Preheat your air fryer oven to 350°F. This is the best temperature to give the bacon time to release all of its excess fat. But the hot air is fast enough that it can be ready in just 10 minutes.

If the air fryer smokes, you can add a small bit of water. But this risks making the bacon soggy. Placing a few slices of bread beneath the cooking basket to soak up the grease may also work to prevent smoking.

2. Arrange the Strips

Carefullyarrange the strips of bacon on the metal rack in a single layer. Try to leave a little bit of space in between the strips.

If the bacon is too long to fit, or if wavy pieces are desired, pieces may be carefully creased or cut in half.

With an oven-style air fryer, you can line the bottom with aluminum foil to save on cleanup.

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe - Evolving Table (3)

3. Cook the Bacon

Cook bacon at 350°F for 9-10 minutes, adding or subtracting 1-2 minutes based on leanness and thickness.

The safest practice is to err on the side of 7-8 minutes, check the bacon, and then return it to the air fryer to finish cooking, if still underdone. If desired, you can flip the bacon strips at this stage in order to ensure even crisping, although this isn’t usually needed.

When the desired level of crispness has been reached, carefully remove the bacon strips from the air fryer with a pair of long tongs to avoid burning yourself.Lay out on a paper-towel-lined plate to soak up any remaining fat.

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe - Evolving Table (4)

FAQs

Is it healthier to cook bacon in the air fryer?

Since food is suspended in the air fryer basket, most of the excess fat from the bacon will be rendered off during cooking. This makes air-fried bacon significantly healthier than bacon cooked in the oven or on the stovetop.

What are the downsides of frying bacon in an air fryer?

The downside of air frying bacon is, if you’re using a small air fryer, you have limited space. Overcrowding the bacon even a small amount can cause it to cook unevenly and turn out soggy rather than crisp.

Do I need to put oil in the air fryer when cooking bacon?

There’s no need to add any additional oil to the air fryer while cooking bacon, due to the amount of grease that the bacon will generate on its own as soon as it begins cooking.

Do I need to flip my bacon when air frying?

If the strips have been arranged in a single layer, there’s no need to flip the bacon in the middle of cooking. The convection oven-like setup of the air fryer will ensure even crisping throughout.

Recipe Tips

  • Give it space. Be sure no pieces are overlapping or touching to achieve a fully crisp texture.
  • Clean the bottom. If making multiple batches of bacon, take a moment to drain or wipe the excess grease out of the bottom of the air fryer.
  • Keep an eye out. Check regularly to determine when exactly the bacon is cooked to your preference.
  • Save the grease. Store rendered bacon grease in an airtight glass mason jar and keep it at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 6 months.
  • Make it sweet. Consider rubbing the bacon slices with a small amount of brown sugar before cooking to make candied bacon!
Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe - Evolving Table (5)

Recipes with Bacon

Once you’ve figured out how easy it is to make bacon in the air fryer, you’ll be looking for recipes to use it.

  • Broccoli Bacon Salad
  • Loaded Potato Skins
  • Avocado BLT Quinoa Salad
  • BLT Pasta Salad
  • BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 11 votes

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe

In just 10 minutes you can have the BEST crispy Air Fryer Bacon ready to eat and without a ton of mess to clean-up! Because the strips are elevated in the air fryer basket, the fat drips away leaving you with a quick, easy, and foolproof way to cook bacon!

Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe - Evolving Table (6)

Yield 4

Cook 10 minutes mins

Print Pin Comment

Ingredients

  • 4 oz. bacon about 4-5 strips

Instructions

  • Heat Air Fryer to 350°F.

  • Lay Out Bacon: Place bacon strips on the metal rack in a single layer. If the bacon is too long to fit or you’d like to get wavy pieces, place your pointer finger underneath a section of it to lift it up. Repeat this another time on the same piece of bacon and do this with all strips.

    4 oz. bacon

  • Air Fry the Bacon: Cook bacon for 9-10 minutes. Cook a minute less if very thin strips or 1-2 minutes more if really thick strips.

  • Drain and Eat: Remove bacon from Air Fryer and place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Eat immediately and enjoy!

Tap stars to rate!

5 from 11 votes

Video

Notes

Storage Directions:

Cooked bacon may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Freeze cooked bacon in a freezer-safe container for up to 3-4 months. The best way to reheat bacon is in the air fryer, set to 300°F. Cook it for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Avoid using the microwave, as this will make the bacon soggy and limp.

Recipe Tips:

  • Give it space. Be sure no pieces are overlapping or touching to achieve a fully crisp texture.
  • Clean the bottom. If making multiple batches of bacon, take a moment to drain or wipe the excess grease out of the bottom of the air fryer.
  • Keep an eye out. Check regularly to determine when exactly the bacon is cooked to your preference.
  • Save the grease. Store rendered bacon grease in an airtight glass mason jar and keep it at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 6 months.
  • Make it sweet. Consider rubbing the bacon slices with a small amount of brown sugar before cooking to make candied bacon!

Nutrition

Serving: 1oz, Calories: 118kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 19mg, Sodium: 188mg, Potassium: 56mg, Vitamin A: 10IU, Calcium: 1mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Made this recipe?Leave a comment below!

Categorized as:
Air Fryer Recipes, Breakfast, Dairy-Free, , Gluten-Free, Low-Carb, Nut-Free, Paleo, Recipes, Refined Sugar-Free, Whole30

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Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Recipe - Evolving Table (2024)

FAQs

How to make crispy in air fryer? ›

However, a small amount of oil is usually necessary to achieve a crispy texture. A drizzle or a quick oil spray is all you need for restaurant-quality fries and golden brown fried chicken, while other foods don't need any oil, like pizza or leftovers you might reheat.

Does adding water to bacon make it crispier? ›

According to Dawn Perry, Real Simple's food director, cooking bacon in water could keep it tender on the inside while still crisp on the outside. How? The bacon fat would render into the water. Once the water evaporates, the bacon would crisp in its own fat.

How long does it take for bacon to get crispy? ›

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven to flip bacon slices with kitchen tongs and then return to the oven. Bake until crispy, 15 to 20 minutes more. Thinner slices will need less time, about 20 minutes total.

How do you make fully cooked bacon crispy? ›

If you don't want to wait on your oven, you can easily reheat your bacon on the stovetop. Turn a burner on to medium-high heat and allow a frying pan to heat up. Once the pan is hot, place a single layer of bacon on it. After a few minutes, your bacon will be crispy and ready to eat.

What is the trick to getting things extra crispy with an air fryer? ›

While we wish it were possible to fry without any oil, air fryers do need a little oil to make your food crispy (but you'll use a lot less than a traditional fryer). Toss your food with a small amount of oil (around a tablespoon or less) to coat it evenly, then add it to the air fryer basket.

What oil is best for crispy air fryer? ›

And they tolerate high heat well. For example, deodorized avocado oil, organic virgin sesame oil and grapeseed oil are good choices. Other oils are fragrant and have a stronger taste.

Why didn't my bacon get crispy? ›

As with other meats, allow some room between strips, about an inch, when placing bacon in the pan. Crowding creates steam and prevents the bacon from cooking evenly, giving you limp bacon instead of crispy strips. Cook in batches if needed.

Does sprinkling flour on bacon make it crispy? ›

You take strips of bacon and place them on a baking sheet, then sprinkle all-purpose flour on top and bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 to 25 minutes. I was surprised to find out how great this worked. The flour definitely helped to give the bacon a crispier texture and nicer color than the other methods I tried.

Is it better to bake bacon at 350 or 400? ›

Bacon should be cooked at 400°F.

Medium-thick bacon slices will need 18 to 20 minutes to reach the perfect level of crispiness. But check the bacon at 10 minutes, and adjust your cooking time to your preferred degree of doneness.

How do you know when crispy bacon is done? ›

How do you know when bacon is done? Look at it. It should be browned, crisp, and tantalizingly juicy. On the stove or in the oven, most bacon fully cooks within 10-18 minutes.

How do restaurants make crispy bacon? ›

They cook it the best way possible, on a sheet pan in the oven. The bonus is while it takes longer to make this way, you can make more at once, the pieces are more or less flat and they come out crispy. Or they throw it in the deep fryer once it's done.

Is water the secret to crispy bacon? ›

Published May 13, 2022. Sometimes the best techniques are the counterintuitive ones, and our simple stovetop method of cooking bacon in water is just that. It may sound weird, but it will produce crispy and tender bacon every time. America's Test Kitchen's bacon innovation has always been top notch.

Can you put precooked bacon in the air fryer? ›

Place bacon slices in cold air fryer basket. Heat for 2 minutes at 350°F. Let bacon stand for 2 minutes.

How to get thick bacon crispy? ›

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a baking rack on top. Arrange bacon strips on the baking rack. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy, 15 to 20 minutes.

How to crisp up food in an air fryer? ›

The general tip for reheating leftovers in the air fryer is:
  1. Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F/204°C.
  2. Place the food in the air fryer basket.
  3. Cook at 350°F/175°C for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the food is crispy to your liking and comes to temperature.

Why doesn't my air fryer make things crispy? ›

Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.

How do you make crispy batter in an air fryer? ›

Corn Starch– helps deepen the color of the batter as it cooks and creates a crispy texture. Baking Powder– Helps create an airy batter with loads of crispy nooks and crannies. Oil Spray – you need oil to fry chicken, even in an air fryer.

Do air fryers make things crunchy? ›

An air fryer is a popular kitchen appliance used to make fried foods such as meat, pastries, and potato chips. It works by circulating hot air around the food to produce a crunchy, crispy exterior. This also results in a chemical reaction known as the Maillard reaction.

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